Area residents are invited to enjoy the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of autumn while also learning about native trees during a series of Fall Foliage Tours in October at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Urban Forestry Coordinator Luke Devores will offer the free, one-hour tours “rain or shine” on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24, at noon and 2 p.m.   Parents and children of all ages are welcome. This year, due to concerns related to COVID-19, pre-registration is required at http://bit.ly/WFFallFoliageTours. In addition, the following safety precautions will be observed: ·         Each tour will be limited to a maximum of 25 participants. ·         Participants who are not part of the same family group will be encouraged to maintain social distance whenever possible. ·         In accordance with Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 147, masks are required for all participants over the age of 5. For

Although the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre remains closed and in-person events suspended due to COVID-19, the center continues to offer online visual and performing arts experiences you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Tickets are now on sale for the Virtual Murder Mystery “Motivation for Murder” on Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m. If you enjoy the theater intertwined with a good murder mystery, then you’ll love this interactive Zoom murder mystery performed by the Triangle-based theater troupe It’s A Mystery. It’s A Mystery’s interactive comedy mysteries offer fresh, creative and fun entertainment. The group’s original scripts, played out by talented actors, will challenge your brain and tickle your funny bone! “Will N. Lighten” possesses all the qualities of a world-renowned motivational speaker. Uplifting and encouraging onstage, he plans to use his fame and finesse to make a bid for the White House. Unfortunately, offstage he has many unsavory characteristics

(On Wednesday state health officials recommended that the traditional trick-or-treating be discontinued this year for fear of COVID-19 infections. There will be further announcements and guidelines in coming days.) In recent days the Town of Wake Forest has received numerous inquiries from residents about whether the Town plans to “cancel” Halloween this year. Not surprisingly, rumors also abound on social media that Wake Forest has “prohibited” trick-or-treating. Town officials want residents to know that Halloween has not been canceled, and trick-or-treating is at parents’ discretion. Halloween (and trick-or-treating) is not a Town-sanctioned event, but rather a nationally recognized event that occurs on October 31. Other than announcing the recommended trick-or-treating hours (always 6-8 p.m.), the Town of Wake Forest has no further involvement. Additionally, the Town has no legal authority or basis to cancel Halloween/trick-or-treating or to restrict the free movement of its residents. Participation in trick-or-treating is an individual/parent

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host a Halloween-themed virtual 5K and kids’ 1-mile fun run (ages 12 and under) October 24-31. Over those seven days, participants in both virtual races can walk or run the prescribed distance at any location they choose. Costumes are optional but encouraged. Online registration for the Monster Dash Virtual 5K and Kids 1-Mile Fun Run is available through Friday, Oct. 16, at https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/Community/Home. The entry fee for the virtual 5K is $20, while the fee for the virtual Fun Run is $10. Participants in the virtual 5K will receive a race packet comprised of a T-shirt, drawstring bag and participation medal. The Fun Run race packet will include a T-shirt and treat bag. Race packets will be available for pick up Thursday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. During pickup, please

Although the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre remains closed and in-person events suspended due to COVID-19, the center continues to offer free online visual and performing arts experiences you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. On Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11-11:45 a.m., Bright Star Touring Theatre, a national professional touring theatre company based in Asheville, NC, will share several of the spooky and clever stories of Edgar Allan Poe via the Renaissance Centre Facebook page. The following day the storytelling performance will be made available on the Renaissance Centre website at www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events/virtual-ren-cen. No one tells a story quite like the great Edgar Allan Poe! In “A Tell-Tale Tale” several of Poe’s spooky and clever stories and poems, including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” and “The Bells,” come to life before your very eyes. With a mastery of language that few can match, Poe’s stories and poems are as impactful today as they

Every child loves a good bedtime story. That’s why the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is partnering with Page 158 Books to introduce a 12-week bedtime story reading series on the Renaissance Centre Facebook page for children 10 and under. On Mondays at 7 p.m., from October 12 through December 28, “Storytime Online” will feature the reading of 12 popular bedtime stories by actors from Forest Moon Theater (FMT) and the Wake Forest mayor and board of commissioners according to the following schedule: October 12 – The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, read by FMT’s Tom Barbieri October 19 – Sing a Song, read by Commissioner Bridget Wall-Lennon October 26 – The Paper Bag Princess, read by FMT’s Emily Yates November 2 – Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons– read by FMT’s Benaiah Barnes November 9 – Brave Enough for Two, read by Commissioner Adam Wright November 16 – Colby and the First Day Ever, read by

If you’re looking for a “hauntingly” good time this fall season, then don’t miss the inaugural “Spirits of Wake Forest” ghost walk coming to downtown Wake Forest. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown Inc., these tours will be offered throughout October at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 6 p.m. only on Sundays. Downtown Wake Forest’s buildings and sidewalks have seen well over 100 years of history, and they have some spooky stories to tell! Join Wake Forest Downtown and their incredible cast of storytellers to learn about the tragic train wrecks, murderous mamas and “borrowed” corpses that make up just a small piece of downtown’s haunted history. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children 10 and under and must be purchased in advance at http://bit.ly/DowntownWFMarketplace. Please note: Tickets are non-refundable/non-transferable. Tours will take place rain or shine. Any attendees under the age of 17 must be accompanied

Have you received your flu shot yet? In this fall and winter when we have a raging coronavirus pandemic in the country it is essential that all people, everyone six months old and older, get a flu shot. It is your best protection against the flu. * * * Oh, this sounds like fun! On Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 3 p.m. Triangle pet owners can bring their pets – furry, feathered or scaled – to St. John’s Episcopal Church at 834 Durham Road in Wake Forest to receive a blessing in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology. This is a drive-through event where all are welcome but please wear masks. Families may also take socially-distanced photos with “Betsy” the goat. No pets in the goat photos, please. (I am wondering about Betsy. Is it really a goat?) The blessings will be

It wouldn’t be the holidays without sweet treats. And part of the fun of making those yummy pies, cakes, cookies and puddings is swapping recipes with neighbors and friends. Between now and Friday, Oct. 23, the Town of Wake Forest is inviting residents to share recipes for up to five of their favorite holiday treats. We’ll include the submissions in an online cookbook everyone can view and download for free. We’ll also choose a selection of recipes Mayor Vivian Jones will prepare as part of a weekly video series in December entitled “Favorite Holiday Treats with Mayor Jones.” Please note the following submission guidelines: ·         Visit http://bit.ly/FavoriteHolidayTreats to submit your recipe(s). Please remember to submit no more than five recipes and use standard U.S. baking measurements (tablespoons, teaspoons, cups, etc.). ·         Every entry must contain your name, address, email address and telephone number. If we cannot contact you, your recipe cannot be entered. ·         Review

The Wake Forest Police Department is now accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 21, as part of its 14th Annual Turkey Drive. Area residents can support this worthy cause by submitting online donations via PayPal at http://bit.ly/WFPDTurkeyDrive. Cash and checks written to the Wake Forest Police Department are also accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute cash or a check to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Det. M.W. Sattler at 919-795-7270 or msattler@wakeforestnc.gov. Due to COVID-19, the police department is currently accepting monetary donations only to this year’s Turkey Drive. Donations of frozen turkeys will not be accepted at this time. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional turkeys. Officials are considering several options for safely distributing the turkeys this year. Additional information will be provided once plans are finalized. Det. Sattler organized the police department’s first Turkey Drive in 2007. Since then, the department has distributed nearly 9,000 turkeys to needy